The Grand Finale

The Linglong Pavilion didn't understand the preciousness of the Dragon Crocodile Hide. Elder Shui rejoiced inwardly. By revealing his identity, he scared off all competitors. He had thought he could acquire the treasure at a low price, but unexpectedly, someone like Guest Number Twenty-Three, who was impervious to threats and enticements, appeared.

Fifteen hundred gold was already Elder Shui's limit. He knew very well that if he continued to bid, he wouldn't even dream of the final item of the auction.

Countless people in the hall were waiting for the final item. Some hadn't even bid since entering, clearly waiting for the grand finale.

At this moment, Elder Shui could only hope that the Shui Family's prestige would deter Xu Yi, to the point that the dignified Elder Shui, representing his family, uttered the ruthless words "fight to the death."

Alas, Xu Yi's courage was as thick as a dragon's spine; how could he be scared away?

"Eighteen hundred gold!"

Seeing that Elder Shui was at the end of his rope, Xu Yi burned his bridges, fighting with his back to the river. He suddenly increased the bid by three hundred gold, hoping to shatter Elder Shui's psychological defense.

And eighteen hundred gold was Xu Yi's final psychological price!

He only had two thousand gold in total. If he could acquire the Dragon Crocodile Hide for eighteen hundred gold, he would have two hundred gold left, which he had set aside for processing the hide.

If Elder Shui followed suit, he would have no choice but to retreat in defeat.

Unfortunately, Elder Shui merely gave Xu Yi a resentful glance before closing his eyes and remaining silent.

Xu Yi had guessed correctly. His sudden increase of three hundred gold, displaying his determination to win, had completely destroyed Elder Shui's final defense.

After all, compared to the final item, the Dragon Crocodile Hide was far inferior.

Although furious, Elder Shui would never let the lesser outweigh the greater.

"Eighteen hundred gold once, eighteen hundred gold twice, eighteen hundred gold thrice, sold! The Dragon Crocodile Hide goes to VIP Number Twenty-Three!"

With a crisp clang, the silver-robed elder announced the ownership of the Dragon Crocodile Hide, looking at Xu Yi with a hint of relief.

The crisp sound of the silver hammer falling into Xu Yi's ears caused his heart to first relax, then tighten, as waves of grief washed over him.

What Xu Yi grieved over was precisely those eighteen hundred gold.

From extreme poverty to sudden wealth, and then back to poverty, the transition was too rapid; he truly couldn't accept it.

With two thousand gold, he, Xu, could live a comfortable and carefree life for a lifetime if he were to enjoy it.

However, compared to enjoyment, his life was ultimately more important.

Just as Xu Yi was overcome with grief, the silver-robed elder's voice rang out again, "Esteemed guests, we will now proceed with the auction of...

The final item of this auction, and today's grand finale. I believe some esteemed guests have already received news and know what this item is. I also believe many esteemed guests came specifically for this item. Indeed, let alone you all, even I, who have auctioned countless treasures in my lifetime, cannot help but feel my heart race upon seeing such a supreme treasure today. Alright, no more suspense. Everyone, open your eyes wide. Please welcome today's grand finale!" As he spoke, he reached out and lifted the curtain, revealing the true appearance of the auction item.

A white iron gallbladder, as large as a chicken egg and perfectly round, lay on a fiery red display cloth.

With a "boom," Xu Yi's head felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer, and he couldn't help but tremble.

He never imagined that the grand finale of this Linglong Pavilion auction would be the same item as the white iron gallbladder at his waist. The only difference was that the iron gallbladder in his waist pouch was slightly larger than the one on the table.

While Xu Yi had witnessed the extraordinary nature of the iron gallbladder and knew it was no ordinary object, he had never expected it to be so precious as to be the grand finale of such an auction.

What is a grand finale? It must be the most significant treasure. Xu Yi had seen the treasures displayed earlier, and his heart had been astonished. For the iron gallbladder to surpass those precious treasures and be presented as the finale, its importance was self-evident.

Just as Xu Yi's heart was filled with joy, the entire hall erupted in a commotion.

"What is that? Could it be Iron Essence!"

"It must be Iron Essence! Perfectly round, pure white as snow, and translucent as jade – these are all signs of the legendary Iron Essence!"

"If it's truly Iron Essence, then it's a priceless treasure. Who would be willing to part with such an item?"

"..."

With a soft clang, the hall fell silent. The silver-robed elder smiled and said, "Esteemed guests, what you say is correct. This item is indeed Iron Essence. What is Iron Essence? Some esteemed guests know, while others do not. I will provide a brief overview. Iron Essence, as the name suggests, is the essence of iron. And this iron is no ordinary iron; it is celestial iron that fell from the heavens. According to the Record of Strange Objects, during the time of the Seven Luminaries, divine iron descended from the heavens, landing in a blessed land. It absorbed the essence of heaven and earth and the spiritual energy of the sun and moon. After a thousand years, through a fortunate coincidence, it gave birth to Iron Essence."

"This Iron Essence is naturally round, pure white as snow, and translucent as jade. Although it has no life, it is incredibly spiritual and possesses myriad changes. It can alter its form according to the user's palm strength. Legend has it that those who have achieved profound cultivation can use this Iron Essence to manifest all things."

As he spoke, the silver-robed elder secretly released his palm strength, and the iron gallbladder transformed into various shapes.

"Its transformations are divine. Shopkeeper Li, there's no need for further explanation, start the bidding quickly!"

Someone impatiently shouted.

Indeed, there are countless treasures in the world, but no one in the hall had ever seen an object that could change shape at will.

"Slow down, slow down. While the Iron Essence's ability to change shape is extraordinary, if that's its only function, wouldn't it be no different from a child's toy? Elder Li, please elaborate on its wonders."

It was Xu Yi who spoke.

What exactly was Iron Essence? He was more curious than anyone. Now that he had encountered it at an auction, wouldn't it be foolish not to take this opportunity to understand it fully?

As the main auctioneer, the silver-robed elder naturally wished for the treasures to sell at higher prices. Just like the Dragon Crocodile Hide earlier, it sold for a great price after Gao Junmo stepped in to test it.

At this moment, Xu Yi was willing to delve into the wonders of Iron Essence, something the silver-robed elder couldn't ask for more. "Esteemed guest, your question is excellent! This Iron Essence is not merely about changing shape. When used as a weapon, its power is also boundless."

As he spoke, he channeled his palm strength, and the iron gallbladder transformed into a sword. It moved east and west, then north and south, its movements accompanied by flashing silver light, exuding an extraordinary might. The hall erupted in thunderous cheers, but only Xu Yi remained silent.

He already knew the marvelous uses of the iron gallbladder. While it appeared to unleash sword energy with boundless power, its actual utility was limited. He had tested it with various objects, and his experiments proved that the iron gallbladder, when transformed into a sword, could pierce bricks and wood but could not cut through hard iron.

The reason the white sword pierced him that day was merely because the sword entered his body skillfully, grazing the gaps between his bones as it pierced through.

Otherwise, with his Body Tempering Peak cultivation, his bones were as hard as iron, and the white sword would have been unable to pierce them.

In other words, although the iron gallbladder's shape-shifting appeared infinitely powerful, its actual utility was limited. It was highly lethal against those below the Body Tempering Peak but had limited effect against those above it. Especially against experts in the Qi Sea Realm, it likely posed no threat at all.

However, he alone knew the intricacies of this matter, and he wasn't foolish enough to reveal it to everyone.